Improvement in railway-car couplings



H. L. FIDL'ER.

Railway Gar-Couplings.

No. 134,135. Patented Dec. 24, 1872.

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AM PHDTO-LITHOGHAPH/G COM! (OSEOHNES P1900555.)

UNITED STATES PATENT-- Orrrcn.

HENRY L. ninnnn, on oonennss, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN RAILWAY-CAR COUPLINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 134,135, dated December 24, 1872.

' thereto attached the corresponding section of the coupling. Figs. 3, 4,5, 6, and 7 are detached sections of the coupling.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several views;

The object of this invention is to coupleand uncouple railway cars without going between them for that purpose, the coupling device being manipulated from the side by means of alever and lifting-rod, whereby the bolt or .hook is secured to the coupling-link, all of which is constructed and operated as follows:

In the drawing, Figs. 1 and 2, A B represent two cars to which the coupling is attached. Said coupling consists of the bunter-heads O O, constructed with wide flaring months, as those in ordinary use, and of which D is the drag-bar, whereby the inner end of the bunter is attached to the car. In said drag-bar is fitted a bolt or rod, E, Figs. 3 and 6, around which is coiled a spring, F. The inner end of the spring rests against the shoulder a, formed by the recess made for its admission and the groove in which the rod lies, as shown in the drawing. On the front end of the bolt is secured a cap or plate, G, Fig.

7. Said figure shows a detached view of the 4 bolt and plate. From two sides of the plate project a finger, b, which serves as a guide and holder for that end of the bolt when it is being pushed back, as will presently be shown. H is a hook, the stem of which is pivoted in the drag-bar at the point 0, whereby is obtained to it a vibratory movement in an upward direction. Immediately above the hook is a spring, I, Fig. 5, whereby the hook is forced downward across the throat of the mouth of the bunter, as shown in Fig. 6. To said hook is attached a lifting-rod, J, which extefids up to the top of the car, and is thereto which are notches whereon rests the rod, which is bent at right angles for that purpose.

A modification of said lifting-rod consists of a lever, L, Fig. 1, pivoted to the car. One end of the lever is attached to the hook, whereas the opposite end projects beyond the side of the car so as to be in easy reach of the brakeman.

The practical operation of the above described coupling is as follows: The link N, Figs. 4 and 5, which is of the ordinary kind, is insertedin the mouth of the bunter, thereby striking the front of the hook H and pushing it upward. The end of the link having passed the lip of the hook, it will then be forced down, by the spring, into, the link, as shown in Fig. 5, which will prevent it from being pulled out. The link thus inserted in the bunter and secured to the hook is made to assume a horizontal position so as to be readily received into the corresponding bunter of an adjoining car by the recoil of the spring F, which forces the head or plate G of the bolt E against the end of the link, which, as a con sequence, presses it strongly in contact with a horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 4, so

also, is the hook held up by the lever, byhaving its outer end lodged in an upper notch, and which is retained therein by a spring similar to that shown in Fig. 2, and which may be seen at 0, Fig. 1.

l Claim.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by LettersPatent, is-

secured in a stay, K, Fig. 2, in the side of the hook, thereby extending the link out in a that it will readily enter, without being guidtained in the notch by a spring, d, Fig. 2. So,

combination with the hook H, spring I, and link N, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

HENRY L. FIDLER.

W'itnesses:

W. H. BURRIDGE, J. H. BURRIDGE. 

